"I’ll keep this simple," he began, his voice deep enough to settle into the bones. "Recent events have shifted the balance in ways we cannot ignore. First—" his eyes locked on Hazel "—the Ferans have started targeting our world for a reason and the Peanu are involved again."
She froze, her lips parting slightly. I could see the subtle tremor in her fingers as she curled them into her lap. Locked away for who knows how long, she clearly hadn’t been told a damn thing.
The emperor continued. "A Feran delegation will arrive soon, under the guise of diplomacy. In reality, they are here to weigh our defenses, judge our worth, and decide how we fit into their designs. The Peanu will no doubt be whispering into their ears when they arrive."
Her gaze darted between the Emperor, then to and Steve. The na "Peanu" alone seed enough to dredge sothing dark from her mory. I could almost feel the questions boiling up inside her, but she kept quiet.
I kept my own breathing steady. The Fernas... the Peanu... and now a delegation? I didn’t like how neatly this all connected.
"Second," the emperor said, "we acted against the Holts. Their influence, their chains, and their entire hold on this world are gone. Removed—permanently."
That was when she truly reacted. Her head snapped toward him. "Gone?" she whispered, like she wasn’t sure she’d heard right.
The Emperor gave a slow nod. "Gone."
I didn’t miss the way her shoulders eased, not fully, but enough to tell the Holts were more than just an enemy in na. There was history there. The kind that leaves a mark no matter how much ti passes.
The emperor’s voice cut through again. "Finally... our next move. We will strike the Peanu before the Feran delegation sets foot here. We will inflict as much damage as possible, in the shortest ti possible, before their so-called peace envoys arrive. When the Fernas walk into our halls, they will walk into a world where the Peanu are reeling."
Her eyes widened, this ti with pure disbelief. "You... plan to attack them before the Fernas even get here?"
"Yes," the emperor said simply. "Because if we wait, we’ll be forced into their ga. And in their ga, they hold the pieces. In mine, they bleed first."
Then his gaze turned toward . "For this, I need every weapon this world has to offer. That includes you, Billion Ironhart."
I straightened without aning to. His words carried no flattery, only fact.
"And him," the emperor added, looking to Steve.
We both stepped forward. I felt her eyes on us, the sister watching like she was trying to piece together why strangers were suddenly part of this war council.
"These two," the emperor said, addressing her now, "have stood where many would fall. You will hear their nas in the capital soon enough."
Her expression shifted between suspicion and curiosity. I could see it, the silent weighing of whether we were just political tools or sothing more.
But then the emperor’s tone shifted, softer, more deliberate. "The reason I am here, personally, is because of you."
That caught her off guard. Her brows pulled together. "?"
"Yes. Because Steve here has sothing rare. The sa skill as you. And I want you to train him before the war begins, and during it, so he can use it at its fullest."
Her lips parted, but no words ca. She just stared at Steve, eyes narrowing, scanning him as if she could see the skill itself written on his skin.
Steve, for once, didn’t try to lighten the mont. He stood still under her scrutiny.
"I know what you’re thinking," the emperor said to her, "but this isn’t a request. This is necessity. You were locked away while the world moved forward, but now you will move with it. You’ll train him in whatever ti we have before we march on the Peanu and of course you will march with us."
There was a beat of silence. Her breathing had quickened slightly from the sheer rush of catching up to events she’d been cut off from.
She finally looked at , as if trying to gauge my stance on this. I t her gaze evenly. "He’s stubborn," I said. "But he learns fast."
That earned the smallest flicker of amusent from her, though it was gone almost instantly.
The emperor shifted his weight, clearly wrapping up. "That is the shape of things. The Fernas are coming. The Peanu will be hit before they do. The Holts are no more. And the both of you—" he gestured between her and Steve "—will make sure this skill becos another blade in our arsenal."
Hazel’s eyes locked onto the Emperor’s with a fierce intensity as she took a slow breath, steadying herself. "If I’m to train this Steve, to prepare him for what’s coming... then I need guarantees."
The Emperor didn’t flinch, but his expression grew serious. "Speak."
She stood straighter, her voice firm and commanding, the chains rattling faintly with the movent. "First, I want out of this prison. This place isn’t fit for soone with my experience. I demand to be moved back to my own quarters in the palace."
Her gaze swept over Steve and before returning to the Emperor. "I want full access to every plan, every strategy. No more being kept in the dark. I want to be included in every eting about the war, every decision made. If I’m to train the next generation, I need to know what’s coming, every detail."
She paused, the weight of her words hanging in the air. "And lastly, I want my sword back."
The Emperor’s jaw tightened for a mont but then he gave a slow nod. "All reasonable requests. You’ll have your freedom. You will be brought up to speed on every developnt since your confinent. And your sword will be returned to you."
Hazel’s expression softened just a little, but the fire in her eyes never dimd. "Good. Because if I’m going to help the empire survive what’s coming, I’ll need every advantage."
I watched the exchange carefully. It was clear she wasn’t just a prisoner, she was a warrior with pride, pain, and power, demanding respect and ready to take her place again. The Emperor’s respect for her was obvious too, even if they clearly had a complicated past.
Steve shifted slightly beside , his eyes never leaving Hazel. I could tell he was trying to process everything as much as I was.
Hazel’s voice broke the silence. "Now... go," she said, her tone firm but calm. "Leave alone with little Steve here. If I’m to train him, I need to know exactly who I’m working with."
The Emperor’s eyes narrowed slightly, studying her as if deciding whether to challenge her demand. After a long few seconds, he gave a single nod.
"Very well," he said, turning his attention toward . His gaze was steady, unreadable. "Let’s go, Billion."
I glanced at Steve, catching the faint flicker of nerves in his expression. My hand ca up and I gave his shoulder a solid pat.
"See you soon," I murmured, then stepped away.
The heavy door closed behind as I followed the Emperor out, the sound of my footsteps echoing faintly in the corridor. Sowhere in the back of my mind, I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of storm Steve was about to walk into.
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